Archive for 2015
Making the Best of Bad Situations
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/MakingTheBestOfBadSituations.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Philippians 1:12-18 I. As much as we might wish it otherwise, we aren’t often in control A. Things aren’t always optimal B. Things don’t always go our way II. Better than you might think A. The Philippians had hear of Paul’s imprisonment – Philippians 4:14 1. Such would normally be a concern B. Yet Paul…
Read MoreWere Jesus and his family refugees?
Question: I’m wondering if Jesus and his family were refugees of political violence, or are these web posts lies? I’ve seen comparisons to the Syrian refugees on the web. A Google search brought me to your site. Did they flee Bethlehem to Nazareth to escape? What is the best answer to those posts? Answer: About…
Read MoreWas forgiveness required prior to healing?
Question: A question was raised in a Bible study this past Sunday with various opinions. Reading articles on your website leads me to believe you may be able to provide some additional insight, with Scriptures, into our discussion next Sunday. Studying Mark 2 Jesus forgives the paralytic and then heals him afterward. A comment was…
Read MoreI’ve been avoiding dating, but there’s this girl I like who is of a different religion
Question: I have been attending a church of Christ since I was born, and I made the decision to be baptized when I was in my teenage years. I’m now in my early twenties and in grad school. My faith and my beliefs are a major part of my life. As such, I shied away…
Read MoreHow is smoking weed any worse than drinking once in a while?
Question: Is smoking weed bad in God’s eyes? Yes, I know the horrible effects it can have on your health, but I’m talking from a Christian’s point of view. Some people get drunk and God will see them through, but when they smoke weed will God resent them? What if I want to try it?…
Read MorePrecious Memories
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/PreciousMemories.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Psalms 119:97-104 I. This lesson actually started out as a challenge to myself. I had read yet another article that talked about how “Precious Memories” was a poor song, lacking in scriptural foundation. A. But I could think of several applicable verses, so I decided to do a lesson based…
Read MoreFellowship Halls
by Ethan R. Longhenry It has become popular among many religious organizations and denominational churches to build and maintain a facility as part of their property which is used to facilitate the sharing of meals. Sometimes such facilities are considered a “multipurpose area” that might be used for meals, meetings, or other purposes; sometimes such…
Read MoreHope
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/Hope.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton I. What are the things that you hope for? A. In other words, what do you expect the future to hold for you? B. Hope is the upper limit on the things that we gain. You will not do much better than what you expect from yourself. C. The pessimist versus the optimist…
Read MoreGod’s Care
by Dennis Stackhouse How often have we wondered if God really cares for us, even those of us who are Christians? We may be in situations where we think that God has forgotten us, or even worse, that He has abandoned us. Countless Christians, through the years, have wondered this very thing. That being the…
Read MoreAre we already married because we committed fornication? What happens to the baby that was conceived?
Question: Praise the Lord! I have a fiancee. We were both born-again Christians, but we fell into the sin of sex. Due to that sin, my fiancee is now pregnant. Initially, some advised us to have an abortion, but we didn’t do that because we knew it was a sin. We asked for forgiveness from…
Read MoreIs it true that once you’ve accepted Christ you are not a sinner, even when you sin?
Question: First, I am a Christain. After accepting Christ, I tried running away from anything that could bring me down spiritually. I was told I was practicing self-righteousness. I lived my life and I fell into sin, but when I fall there are these feelings of guilt in me, and I go to God for…
Read MoreThe Origin of the King James Version
by Ethan R. Longhenry In my personal reading, I have just completed two books that discuss the origins of the King James Version: In the Beginning: The Story of the King James Bible and How It Changed a Nation, a Language, and a Culture, by Alister McGrath, and God’s Secretaries: The Making of the King James Bible,…
Read MoreWhat about Christian Reconstructionism?
Question: I am curious if “Christian Reconstructionism” is real and if so, a cult. Some people said that Christian Reconstructionism is the idea of some Christian trying to bring America back to its Christian roots, but they are trying to follow some Old Testament laws. In doing so, some of them will try to criminalize…
Read MoreWhat is the best way to lovingly tell someone they are wrong?
Question: In your opinion what is the best way to tell someone that they are wrong but loved? If someone is a homosexual, how can you tell them that their actions are wrong in a loving way? It seems like you need to strike a delicate balance there. Answer: “But avoid foolish and ignorant disputes,…
Read MoreQuite an impressive list of topics
Question: Hi, I just came across your website, and I have to admit, I am impressed. I have bookmarked it so I can go back and read more of the articles that you have posted. That is quite an impressive list of topics and I can see that it would take some time to go…
Read MoreI continue to benefit from this site
Question: Hello Jeff, I continue to benefit from all the functions of your website. I appreciate the time and effort you give to make it what it is. May God bless you in your work there. Answer: I’m glad the work is useful to you.
Read MoreOffense
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/Offense.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text Matthew 15:21-28 I. We live in a society with a chip on its shoulder A. People are looking for reasons to complain and to blame. B. Say the wrong word and you will find your job in jeopardy, close friends will split, or long standing members of the church will leave…
Read MoreFor over two years I have thoroughly enjoyed your articles
Question: Dear Sir, I am a saint who worships at a church of Christ. I teach Sunday school class, and I often co-teach a Tuesday night ladies class. Sometimes, I Google topics with “church of Christ” added to the search so that I will pull from archives of the Lord’s people. For over two years…
Read MoreRun with Endurance
by Dennis Stackhouse We have a wonderfully challenging statement given to us in Hebrews 12:1: “Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us.” How…
Read MoreIntentions Won’t Get It!
by Dee Bowman Some of the proverbial expressions not found in the Bible are nonetheless true. The truth will always plumb with all other truth; it cannot contradict itself. Take the expression “the road to hell is paved with good intentions.” That’s not found in the Scriptures, but it’s nonetheless true. Nobody really wants to…
Read MoreThe Sin of Murmuring
by Earl Fly Korah, Dathan, Abiram, fifty princes of the congregation, and others rebelled and murmured against God’s servants Moses and Aaron (Numbers 16:1-11). “The earth opened her mouth, and swallowed them up … they, and all that appertained to them, went down alive into the pit, and the earth closed upon them, and they…
Read MoreShould we not worry about false teachers because at least Christ is being preached?
Question: Does Philippians 1:12-18 mean that whatever way the gospel is preached it is not too important? What will then be the reward of a person or people involved in preaching the gospel out of envy and strife? There are some congregations here that have decided to do monthly joint evangelism, but the problem with…
Read MoreThose words in italics are idle words!
Question: Dear Minister, “… there will be two in one bed …” The Greek does not have ‘men’ “Two will be grinding …” No ‘women’ in the Greek text either. “Two will be in the field …” Again, no ‘men.’ The words ‘men’ and ‘women’ have been added by Catholic and later Anglican translators because…
Read MoreI just realized I never was properly baptized
Question: Hello, A couple of members of the church of Christ in my neighborhood suggested to me two Sundays ago that I should be re-baptized. After subsequent research (especially through your website), I was forced to admit that I was never properly baptized. I was baptized at only 10 weeks of age! Even before I…
Read MoreI thought I had changed, but then I sinned and had sex
Question: Hello, I’d like to ask a question. But I must first tell you that I grew up going to the church of christ and my grandfather was a preacher. I got into drugs at a young age as my stepfather abused my mother and I when I was growing up. I finally surrendered all…
Read MoreWhy Does John Mention that Jesus Wept?
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/WhyDoesJohnTellUsJesusWept.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: John 11:17-44 I. Ask someone even slightly familiar with the Bible what the shortest verse is and they can tell you: “Jesus wept.” – John 11:35 A. I was reading an article based on Tom Wright’s book John for Everyman and he asked an interesting question, “Why does John show…
Read MoreIs voluntary celibacy desired by Christ?
Question: Hi, I perused your site and was looking at your posts about celibacy with which I agree that forced celibacy should not be imposed. Yet, the vow of chastity is a vow that is a gift that is to be honored and revered among persons undertaking this path in their life. Chastity is a…
Read MoreWisdom in Picking a Mate
Text: Genesis 2:18-24 I. The importance of selecting who you will marry A. Marriage is intended by God to be a lifetime commitment – Matthew 19:3-6 B. God hates divorce – Malachi 2:13-16 C. God law has marriage lasting the life of the parties involved – Romans 7:2-3 D. It is God’s intention that the time be spent happily…
Read MoreIs refusing medical treatment a sin?
Question: I know that assisted suicide is sinful because it is taking matters into your own hands, but when is it a sin to refuse medical treatment, or is it sinful? I’m not talking about those who refuse it because they are going to keep right on praying that God will make them better, I’m…
Read MoreCan a child baptized without his parents’ knowledge feel the presence of God?
Question: If a child was baptized as a baby without the parents’ knowledge but raised in a Jewish home, could that child feel the presence of God without knowing it? Answer: There are too many false assumptions in this question. One does not need to be baptized to feel God’s presence. God’s presence is known…
Read MoreReally informative stuff
Question: Wow! Really informative stuff in “Why is sex a sin?” You’ve addressed all the questions that always bothered me. Thank you so much. I also like the point you made that “sex before marriage is a sin because God said so.” It’s absolutely true that whatever He instructs us to do will benefit us…
Read MoreI am most thankful for the outstanding website you have developed
Question: Dear Jeff, Greetings in the name of our Savior. I hope you and yours are doing well. I’m writing primarily for only one reason. I am most thankful for the outstanding website you have developed for the La Vista church. I’m grateful to you for the countless hours you must spend to keep it…
Read MoreWe aren’t able to meet the terms necessary for a traditional wedding
Question: Hi, I just have a quick question: I am a lady of 31 years and my boyfriend is 32 years old. We are both working and studying. I am Zulu and he is Venda. Our cultures are not the same. The Vendas pay a lobola, but the Zulu people just have a union of…
Read MoreThe Bible and Dinosaurs
by Don Martin The word dinosaur, as such, is not found in the Bible. We must remember that man has named many of the animals today. The word dinosaur is associated with the Greek “dino,” meaning terrible. There are animals named in the Bible concerning which we have no definite knowledge or identity (see “greyhound,”…
Read MoreI am miserable after my divorce
Question: I recently got a divorce, not by my choosing, but because of my actions — I cheated on my wife on numerous occasions. I am also a recovering drug addict. I can’t honestly say how many times I left her all alone at the house with our children. I put her through misery, not…
Read MoreDoes Deuteronomy 29:14-15 teach that the old covenant is still in effect?
Question: Does Deuteronomy 29:14-15 teach that the old covenant is still in effect? Answer: “I make this covenant and this oath, not with you alone, but with him who stands here with us today before the LORD our God, as well as with him who is not here with us today” (Deuteronomy 29:14-15). Moses is…
Read MoreTrip Report – 2015 (Bali, Singapore)
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/TripReport2015.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Matthew 28:18-20; Mark 16:15-16; Romans 10:17-18 I had an opportunity to revisit the two groups I worked with last year. This time my wife, Gaye, agreed to come with me. It was the first time she has been out of the country. The church in La Vista paid my travel…
Read MoreWhat did Jesus mean when he said, “my reward is with me”?
Question: What did Jesus mean when he said, “my reward is with me”? Answer: “Behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to render to every man according to what he has done” (Revelation 22:12). Imagine someone tells you that he is going to give you $100 … that is, right after…
Read MoreWhat do I do about my past affair?
Question: I have been married for almost 30 years. I got married in my early twenties to my high school sweetheart for all the wrong reasons. I have really never been happy in this marriage. I have grown children. I had an affair with a man for ten years. We both were Catholics and this…
Read MoreSimon Peter’s Enduring Lessons
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/SimonPetersEnduringLessons.mp3 by Dennis Stackhouse
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